Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Gorilla Dies At Toronto Zoo

One of the Toronto Zoo’s gorillas was euthanized after having a serious stroke, the zoo announced Tuesday.

Samantha, a 37-year-old Western Lowland Gorilla, was the eldest female of the zoo’s seven-member troop.

The stroke was Samantha’s second in a month. In mid July, a stroke left her paralyzed on the right side. Then on Monday, she had another which “put her in critical condition,” the zoo said in a statement.

“Since the prognosis was now extremely poor, the difficult decision was made to euthanize her,” the statement said. “As part of the mourning process, the gorilla troop was able to spend time with her and say good-bye following her death.”